The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-07-07
Random Thoughts.
j. II. NJ.

There are too many people in this
world like many of the West Point
graduates during the war The West
Pointer would map out his campaign,
designating the point at which the
central or important battle was to be
fought, knowing as he did that the
commander on the other side was a
West Pointer, too. and knowing the
peculiarities, at the Academy, of his
enemy. But the trouble was, the
Commander thus planning too fire.
quently found that his enemy had also
been planning a little on his own &C
count, and was on the march first.
The result Of this was often disaster
to the party most certain of victory.
The same rule which held good in
military affairs, holds good in other
matters, notably in politics. He who
can do the most elaborate planning, is
considered the shrewdest politician.
Especially is this so among the young
er men. To have "set up the wires"
to have "fxed things" seems to be all
that is or was hoped for, and the en-
dorsement by the people of the ticket
so fixed. But it happens not infre-
quently that other forces are at work,
meantime. 1t is very natural for a
politician, after temporary success,
to drift into the idea that he has been
especially called to manage the affairs
of the State. Therefore he is apt at
planning, and expects the people to be
swift to perform. He arranges the
movements in the political field several
years ahead, and becomes so thorough
ly swallowed up in his own conceit as
to forget that there is anybody, out
side of his own wishes and aims,
having any right or desire to take hold
of public matters. It is from such
drift as this that Rings" come.
Year after year men assemble, and
make nominations; year after year
the tricksters are all smiles and good
nature; year after year their schemes
are successful; but sometimes a halt
is called, abruptly but firmly. The
present Indications in the political
field are that the people are holding
little conventions-State County,
Township and Municipal-of their
own, and if the nominations made by
these correspond with those made by
the public conventions, there is no
danger to such tickets. But if there
should be discrepancy between them,
then the quiet, determined scratching
begins. Unfortunately, we are drift
ing, as politicians, into an era of po-
litical debt-paying. Scarcely a cam
paign comes up in which there is not
some long-standing political account
to settle up. This tendency is grow
ing, especially in Counties where eth
er party is strong enough to render
the election Of its candidates reason
ably sure. | know of men now-and
| do not wish to interfere with any
friends private business-who have
the names of fellow politicians treas
ured up as victims, and as each sue
ceeding campaign comes on the trap
is sprung, and some candidate has a
desperate struggle to escape defeat at
the hands Of party associates. 1t is
deplorable that such things can be,
yet it is fact as well. And there is
significant feature beneath it. Re-
publicans are especially independent
in political matters, and man who
has served the Republican party
through the times Of danger and hard
ship, will not be dictated to by one
who has done far less for the party
and the country. There is habit
among Republicans Of pledging can
didates to support the ticket. Con-
ventions are made ''sealers of weights
in matters Of Republicanism. There
fore, when we scold an old Republican
for laxity in party work, he replies
that he has stood the test Of years OF
faithful service, and if a great political
principle is to be resolved into monk.